Stamping tool die matrix with movable actuating head



Nov. 7, 1967 A. c. M COY 3,351,003

STAMPING TOOL DIE MATRIX WITH MOVABLE ACTUATING HEAD Filed Jan. 14, 19662 Sheets-Sheet 1 i I 30 if WW j [127 Fl 6 4 E K Y BY ARTICE |c 0 AgentA. C. M COY STAMPING TOOL DIE MATRIX WITH MOVABLE ACTUATING HEAD FiledJan. 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ARTICE C. MC COY Agent United StatesPatent 3,351,003 STAMPING TOOL DIE MATRIX WITH MOV- ABLE ACTUATING HEADArtice C. McCoy, Marietta, Ga, assignor to Lockheed AircraftCorporation, Burbank, Calif. Filed Jan. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 520,612 3Claims. (Cl. 101-18) This invention relates to stamping devices and moreparticularly to a compact, portable stamping tool for punchingidentification markings on parts, especially those fabricated of theharder metals such as iron, steel and the like.

Because of the forces required to stamp or engrave hard metals, heavyand massive machines and presses have been employed which when operatingare located in a stationary position and the parts or workpieces arebrought to the machine or press, placed in proper position and theoperation performed. Where it has not been possible to deliver theworkpiece to the machine or to manipulate it into a proper position inthe machine, resort has been had to hand chiseling in the simple caseand to comparatively elaborate apparatus such as elec trical or chemicaletching devices under other circumstances.

In-the-field or on-the-spot operations usually require the handchiseling method which has been improved to the extent that individualpunch dies have been developed. These punch dies essentially comprisesteel rods or bars with an end face that defines a sharp edgedconfiguration of the mark, usually a letter, number or symbol, to beimpressed in the workpiece. With this end face held flush against thesurface of the workpiece the opposite end of the rod is struck with ahammer and the impact produces the impression.

While this relatively simple procedure accomplishes the job, it leaves'much to be desired. Two or three dozen, or more, individual punch diesare usually required to complete a set which is easily broken when oneor more of the dies are lost or mislaid. Such dies necessarily are smallin cross section relative to the rod length making a true axial strikewith the hammer difficult, particularly since the edge surfaces of themarks in contact with the workpiece are not sutliciently broad to ensurea flat and even abutment at the precise moment of impact. Where multiplemarks, e.g., letters, digits, etc., comprise the identification,alignment of the successive marks is dilficult and special referencetools, indicators or the like must be provided, adding to the logisticsproblem.

Such attempts as have heretofore been made to overcome the foregoingobjections have resulted in unduly expensive devices, not only due totheir original manufacture and fabrication but also due to their shortservice life under the normal abuse given such devices. Thus, theseprior designs incorporate an objectionable number of parts, too many ofwhich are required for interaction and relative movement making themprone to break or becoming inoperative in service.

Also, in order to provide the required number of marks or characters,many of these previously proposed devices include a disk on theperipheral face of which the several characters are formed in successivespaced arrangement. Such disks must be accurately formed and shapedraising problems in their manufacture and resulting in relativelyexpensive products. This is aggravated by the fact that the impact forceapplied in the stamping operation must be applied eccentrica-lly, i.e.,off or outside the plane of the disk, which results in their damage,misalignment, etc.- in short, a relatively brief service life.

The present invention contemplates the foregoing shortcomings in thisarea of the known art and is directed to a practical stamping orpunching tool that is characterized by its durable, rugged constructioncompletely devoid of complex manufacturing operations and yet thoroughlyaccurate and reliable in service. To this end the invention proposes toemploy the existing punch dies so organized and arranged in compactassembly as to constitute a unitary tool for field and on-the-spot usein the marking of heavy metal parts.

In essence, this tool comprises a selected number of punch dies disposedin parallel, coextensive alignment for individual reciprocation in acase or housing. Thus mounted and disposed, the several dies are springbiased into an upward position with their meta]. marking ends disposedin a plane within the housing plane. At the 0ppos ite side of thehousing there is provided a slidably mounted anvil having a strikerelement adapted to be aligned with a selected one of the die ends. Themounting of the anvil is such that it is movable in two directions,i.e., longitudinally and laterally of the tool whereby one or more rowsof dies mounted and disposed within the housing as described may beemployed. Reference and guide means are also incorporated in the tool toensure the coaxial disposition of the striker element with reference tothe selected die whereby the direction of the impact force iscontrolled.

With the above and other objects in view as will be apparent, thisinvention consists in the construction, com- 'bination and arrangementof parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a tool constructed in accordance withthe teachings hereof with portions broken away to disclose the severaldies, their mounting and spacing;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 toshow two rows of individual dies and the associated anvil and strikerelement mounted on the tool for longitudinal and lateral movement anddis posed in one extreme lateral position for coaction with a selecteddie in one of such rows, the center portion of the tool being brokenaway;

FIGURE 3 is a similar section in the area of the dies and strikerelement to show the other extreme lateral position of the striker forcoaction with a selected die in the other row;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3 to show the bottomface of the mount for the anvil and striker element by which it isslidably connected to the tool for longitudinal and lateral movement aswell as the guides and indexing means to locate it in alignment with anyone of the several dies;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2 showing thestriker element in contact with a die whereby the die face is extendedfrom the tool into the work-stamping position; and

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a fragment of the tool from the bottomthereof to show the symbols or letters on the several die faces and thereference markings on the adjacent tool faces to facilitate the properlocation thereof on the workpiece prior to and during the stampingoperation.

With reference more particularly had to the drawings 10 designates a diebank which is a preassembled unit adapted to be enclosed by removablecover plates 11 and 12 to constitute a compact unit. The die bank 10 isformed by a rectangular, relatively thin plate 13 of rigid material, tothe marginal ends of which on both sides bars 14 are secured byfasteners or screws 15 having countersunk heads. Each such bar 14 has alength substantially equal to the width of the plate 13 whereby itsopposed ends are disposed in the plane of the plate sides and one sideof each bar 14 lies in the plane of the associated plate end.

Secured by appropriate fasteners or rivets 16 to each side of the plate13 to be disposed in back-to-back alignment is a plurality of spacerelements 17 with alternate die punches 18 independently mountedtherebetween. The several bars 14, spacers 17, and punches 18 havesubstantially the same transverse dimension whereby the successivespacers 17 and punches 18 are equidistant and their several sidesurfaces are located in a single plane. One end of the bars 14, spacers17, and punches 18 terminates substantially flush with the associatededge of the plate 13 which constitutes the bottom of the ultimatestamping tool. Thus disposed the cover plates 11 and 12 are removablysecured thereto by the fasteners 15.

Each spacer 17 is formed by a pair of vertically aligned blocksseparated at adjacent ends to accommodate a compression spring 19. Ifdesired a guide rod 20 may be provided on each lower block to extendcentrally through the associated spring 19 and thereby maintain it inproper position. At its upper end each spring 19 abuts a pin 21 securedto and extending laterally from opposite sides of each punch 18. Theseveral punches 18 are thereby normally held in the upper position withtheir stamping faces 22 inwardly of the tool as defined by the edges ofthe cover plates 11 and 12.

The upper ends of the bars 14 terminate in a common plane with theassociated longitudinal edges of the plates 11, 12 and 13. Thecorresponding ends of the spacers 17 and dies 18, however, all terminatein a common plane below the top of the tool as established by thecoplanar edges of the plates 11, 12 and 13. A channel 23 is therebyproduced in the top of the tool above each row of dies 18 and spacers17.

Associated with the top of the tool is a slide block 24 whichconstitutes a mount for a spring-loaded striker element 25. This block24 is slidable on a guide rail 26 disposed in space relation to theupper edge of the cover plate 11 to which it is secured as by welding,soldering, etc., at its opposite ends as at 27. Adjacent what shall bereferred to as its aft end the block 24 is pierced by a slot 28 which isdisposed substantially parallel to the plane of the top of the tool andthrough which the rail 26 is adapted to pass. The length of the slot 28is substantially equal to the width of each channel 23 whereby movementof the block 24 transversely of the tool from one end of the slot 28 tothe other locates the center of the striker element in the transversecenter of one and then the other channel 23.

Where two or more rows of dies 18 are employed with a correspondingnumber of channels 23 the edge of the block 24 defining the slot 28 isrecessed as at 28. Each such recess 28' conforms to the transverseconfiguration of the rail 26 which is thereby seated therein to locatethe longitudinal center of the striker 25 in the transverse center ofthe selected channel 23.

Preferably the block 24 terminates .at opposite ends in depending ears29 to define a space therebetween substantially equal to the overallwidth of the tool as defined by the remote faces of the plates 11 and12. The block 24 thereby straddles and rests in flush abutment againstat least two of the plates 11, 12, and 13 in each of its positions toensure vertical alignment of the striker 25 with the several dies 18underlying each channel 23. This position of the striker 25 is furtherassured by means of and through a projecting lug 30 on the lower face ofthe block 24 adapted to abut the face of one of the plates 13 or 11 inopposition to the ear 29 against the plate 12 or 13 respectively.

In order to ensure axial alignment of the striker element 25 with eachof the several dies 18 the upper edges of plates 12 and 13 are notchedas at 31 and a pin 32 pressfitted or otherwise secured in the block 2418 adapted to peripherally engage each such notch 31. To facilitate thisthe opposite faces of the block 24 may be scribed with an index 33 andthe adjacent surfaces of the plates 11 and 12 marked with the symbol orletter of the associated die 18. Similar indexes 34 and markings may beprovided on the bottom of the plates 11 and 12 for alignment withreference marks on the workpiece.

The striker element 25 comprises a shank 35 adapted to pass through ahole provided in the block 24 therefor by which it is disposed in aVertical position when the bottom face of the block 24 abuts at leasttwo of the plates 11, 12 and 13 as described. Thus disposed the pin 32is, of necessity, engaged in a notch 31 and the shank 35 is in axialalignment with the adjacent die 18.

At its lower end the shank 35 terminates in an enlarged head 36 havingtransverse dimensions that correspond to the width of the channel 23 soas to coact in sliding relation with the sides thereof. At its upper endthe shank 35 is threaded to be received and releasably secured in anvil37. A compression spring 38 mounted on the shank 35 between the block 24and anvil 37 serves to normally maintain the head 36 out of contact withthe adjacent die 18 at all times. If desired, wells or seats 39 may beprovided in the block 24 and anvil 37 respectively around the shank 35to receive and retain each end of the spring 38.

In view of the foregoing construction and arrangement the strikerelement 25 is mounted for ready adjustment on the guide rail 26 toposition its shank 35 in precise coaxial alignment with a selected die18. In this adjustment the block 24 is rotated on and about the rail 26to dispose the pin 32 clear of the notches 31 in plates 12 and 13whereby the block 24 is free to slide longitudinally of the tool. Thusdisposed the block 24 is also free to slide laterally of the toolthrough coaction of its slot 28 and the rail 26. Central alignment ofthe shank 35 in the desired channel 23 is effected by seating the rail26 in the corresponding recess 28 in the block 24.

When the pin 32 aligns with a selected notch 31 as indicated byregistration of the index 33 with the desired letter on the plate 11 or12 the block 24 may be rotated on and about the rail 26 to bring thebottom face thereof into flush contact with the upper edge of at leasttwo of the plates 11, 12, and 13. At this time the head 36 of thestriker 25 is disposed between adjacent surfaces of adjoining plates 12and 13 or 11 and 13 as the case may be to maintain it in a stableposition. Thus, force applied to the striker 25 when the anvil 37 isstruck by a hammer is assured of being directed longitudinally of thedie 18.

It is to be understood that while this particular embodiment of theinvention hereinabove illustrated and described is preferred, variouschanges and modifications thereto will be obvious to those skilled inthe art without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention. Such changes and modifications are intended to be covered bythe appended claims which alone define the limitations of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stamping tool comprising multiple rows of parallelly disposedpunches, each punch mounted for independent axial reciprocation andhaving a die face of selected marking on one end thereof, resilientmeans operative on said punches to maintain them normally in coextensivealignment, a striker mounted adjacent the other ends of said punches formovement longitudinally and transversely of said rows and forreciprocation in a plane substantially parallel to said punches, andreference and guide means to locate said striker in coaxial alignmentwith any selected one of said punches, said reference and guide meansincluding a relatively stationary guide rail parallelly disposed withrespect to said rows, a slide block carrying said striker, a slot insaid slide block for the passage of said rail therethrough, and onerecess in said block in communication with said slot for each said rowconforming to the transverse configuration of said rail and located toreceive and engage said rail when said striker is in alignment with thetransverse center of each of said rows.

2, The stamping tool of claim 1 including a plate disposed on each sideof each said row, one longitudinal side of each of said plates extendingoutwardly of said other ends to define a channel adjacent each said row,and wherein said slide block straddles at least one of said channels andrests in flush abutment against at least two of said plates when saidstriker is in each aligned position with the transverse center of eachrow as aforesaid.

3. The stamping tool of claim 2 including a groove in each said onelongitudinal side corresponding to and adjacent each punch and a pincarried by said block and conforming in transverse configuration to saidgroove to be received and engaged thereby when said striker is incoaxial alignment as aforesaid.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 471,455 3/1892 Abbott 197-6579,047 3/1897 Dudley 197-53 1,789,831 1/1931 Pannier et al. 101-181,978,898 10/1934 Ford 10l--109 2,142,009 12/1938 Siebert 1011=8 X2,501,447 3/1950 Lambert 101109 X 2,505,729 4/1950 Zenner 197--53 X2,577,064 12/1951 Zenner 197-1 X 2,639,017 5/1953 Croucher 197-22,838,156 6/1958 Grifiith 19753 2,903,962 9/1959 Henderson 1011092,935,018 5/1960 Lego 101-109 3,215,245 11/1965 Thiene et al. 197-2ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. E. S. BU'RR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STAMPING TOOL COMPRISING MULTIPLE ROWS OF PARALLELLY DISPOSEDPUNCHES, EACH PUNCH MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT AXIAL RECIPROCATION ANDHAVING A DIE FACE OF SELECTED MARKING ON ONE END THEREOF, RESILIENTMEANS OPERATIVE ON SAID PUNCHES TO MAINTAIN THEM NORMALLY IN COEXTENSIVEALIGNMENT, A STRIKER MOUNTED ADJACENT THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID PUNCHES FORMOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ROWS AND FORRECIPROCATION IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PUNCHES, ANDREFERENCE AND GUIDE MEANS TO LOCATE SAID STRIKER IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENTWITH ANY SELECTED ONE OF SAID PUNCHES, SAID REFERENCE AND GUIDE MEANSINCLUDING A RELATIVELY STATIONARY GUIDE RAIL PARALLELLY DISPOSED WITHRESPECT TO SAID ROWS, A SLIDE BLOCK CARRYING SAID STRIKER, A SLOT INSAID SLIDE BLOCK FOR THE PASSAGE OF SAID RAIL THERETHROUGH, AND ONERECESS IN SAID BLOCK IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SLOT FOR EACH SAID ROWCONFORMING TO THE TRANSVERSE CONFIGURATION OF SAID RAIL AND LOCATED TORECEIVE AND ENGAGE SAID RAIL WHEN SAID STRIKER IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THETRANSVERSE CENTER OF EACH OF SAID ROWS.